Research – Food Intolerance Symptoms

Food Intolerance Symptoms

I have been testing people for food intolerances for over twenty years and have witnessed many positive changes, even “miraculous” changes. Scientific research is just beginning to recognize the correlation between food intolerances and symptoms of disease. Unfortunately this correlation has not been recognized by most medical doctors. Results of a survey indicated that people feel that their symptoms (that they feel are connected to foods) are treated dismissively by health care professionals.[1] These results are disturbing because according to the Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine at least one-fifth of the population suffers from some form of allergic disease; that is a conservative estimate. One in ten children suffer from eczema and currently 15% of children in the UK are breathless or have asthma. Food intolerance causes or exacerbates many conditions; for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, urticaria, atopic eczema, rhinitis, asthma, hyperactivity and rheumatoid arthritis. According to this article approximately 50% of all patients attending a gastroenterology clinic suffer from IBS and half of these respond to a simple elimination diet. Many of these conditions also respond very well to the elimination of simple foodstuffs with complete relief from symptoms. In addition it was found that diet and nutrition also play an important part in hyperactivity and delinquency.[2]

Unfortunately traditional medical diagnostic tools are not accurate in diagnosing food intolerances. The scratch test is inaccurate for testing foods [3] and the IgE/IgG4 antibody testing is unreliable.[4]

Fortunately all is not lost in the medical community, at least in the United Kingdom. Nurses ran food intolerance clinics in South London, Glasgow, Norfolk, and Birmingham in which patients were put on a two week healthy-eating diet. This proved to have a beneficial effect on more than 50% of the patients. Patients who did not feel better were put on a two week wheat and dairy-free diet after which nearly half (49%) felt that their symptoms improved. In summary, more than 70% of the patients felt markedly better.[5]

If you have health issues and do not find support or solutions in the medical community do not lose hope. There are many websites that provide complementary and alternative evaluation of food allergies and food intolerances.[6]

Some individuals who are susceptible to a particular food can suffer an allergic reaction just from the smell of it. [11]

Some studies have shown that in children cow’s milk protein hypersensitivity can cause chronic constipation unresponsive to laxative treatment.[8] An increasing number of reports suggest a relationship between refractory chronic constipation and food allergy in children. [8]

Recently, food hypersensitivity has re-surfaced as a possible approach in the diagnosis and management of many chronic disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome. Data from dietary elimination and food challenge studies support the role of diet in the pathogenesis of a sub-group of irritable bowel syndrome patients.[9]

Gluten intolerance can also lead to a confusingly wide array of symptoms, including anemia, skin rashes, headaches, and neurological problems [12]

Physiological triggers of headaches and migraines include substances in foods and beverages such as monosodium glutamate, caffeine, and nitrites as well as lactose intolerance.[13]

In summary, scientific research connects food intolerances with symptoms of disease. Everyone has food intolerances, it is just a question of how intolerant are you to foods? There is a way to find out for yourself; it is called muscle testing.